Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2001 Pontiac Trans AM with NHTSA between 2002 and 2006.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 7 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 25
Against the median year of the Pontiac Trans AM. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
20% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 2001 compares with every other Pontiac Trans AM
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2001 Pontiac Trans AM
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Body & Structure
220.0%
Median failure at 108,000 miles
Brakes
220.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 44,000 mi
Engine & Cooling
220.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 13,900 mi
Doors, Latches & Locks
110.0%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
110.0%
Electrical System
110.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain
110.0%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
125.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
125.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
125.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
125.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jul 2002peak 2Sep 2006
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 44,000 milesNaples, FLCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT 40-45 MPH. WHILE BRAKING, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WARNING LIGHTS WERE NOTICED. THIS FAILURE LED TO A 2 VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHERE 1 PERSON WAS POSSIBLY INJURED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NEEDED TO SLOW THE CAR, THOUGH THE SPIN OUT AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT ULTIMATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE ABS WAS INOPERABLE TCS OFF??, AND THE BRAKE WARNINGS WERE LIT AND REMAINED LIT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AT THIS POINT IS UNKNOWN AND A DETERMINATION SHOULD BE MADE LATER IN THE WEEK.
NHTSA complaint #10134438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,800 milesSandy, UTFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE BREAKER BOXES AND FUEL INJECTORS, THE VEHICLE WAS DEYSTROYED.
NHTSA complaint #8021508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 108,000 milesGaithersburg, MD
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
MY DOOR IS FALLING OFF FROM THE FRAME OF THE CAR. NO ACCIDENTS TO THE CAR. THE WINDOW HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE GM BODY SHOP SAID THEY JUST HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM LAST WEEK WITH ANOTHER FIREBIRD. GM HAS OFFERED TO PAY 15% OF THE $982.00. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE DOORS ARE GLUED ON ALL FIREBIRDS. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10168702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 44,000 milesNaples, FLCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT 40-45 MPH. WHILE BRAKING, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WARNING LIGHTS WERE NOTICED. THIS FAILURE LED TO A 2 VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHERE 1 PERSON WAS POSSIBLY INJURED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NEEDED TO SLOW THE CAR, THOUGH THE SPIN OUT AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT ULTIMATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE ABS WAS INOPERABLE TCS OFF??, AND THE BRAKE WARNINGS WERE LIT AND REMAINED LIT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AT THIS POINT IS UNKNOWN AND A DETERMINATION SHOULD BE MADE LATER IN THE WEEK.
NHTSA complaint #10134438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orlando, FL
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
PONTIAC, MONTANA 2001, IT SEEMS LIKE THE SLIDING DOOR BEHIND THE DRIVER'S DOOR, IS NOT WELL SEALED WHEN IT CLOSES, YOU CAN FEEL AIR OMING THRU THE HOLE, I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A ACCIDENT PLUS I AM VER CAREFUL WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH THAT DOOR, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME WHEN SOMEONE OPENED THE DOOR ABRUPTLY
NHTSA complaint #10124216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Creedmoor, NC
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
RIVETS TEARING THROUGH DOOR PANEL THAT HOLDS THE WINDOW REGULATOR.
NHTSA complaint #10064354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 milesSchaumburg, IL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY CAR IS USING APPROXIMATELY 1 TO 1.25 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 3000 MILES WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS WITHIN "ACCEPTABLE" TOLERANCES. I DISAGREE.
NHTSA complaint #10053025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ubalde, TX
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
CONSUMER STATES DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST WAS RAINING A LOT IN TX. TRUNK GOT WATER INSIDE LIKE A SWIMMING POOL. CAUSING DAMAGE TO BACK SEAT AND FLOOR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DIDN'T HELP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #8021588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,800 milesSandy, UTFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE BREAKER BOXES AND FUEL INJECTORS, THE VEHICLE WAS DEYSTROYED.
NHTSA complaint #8021508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Spring, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WARRANTY DENIED BY DEALERSHIP/MFG BASED ON SPECULATION THAT I "RACED" VEHICLE AND THAT BOLT ON ALTERATIONS CAUSED MORE HORSEPOWER THAN ENGINE CAN HANDLE.
NHTSA complaint #766682 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Bergen, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING ABS BRAKE SYSTEM GOES OUT , CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE NO BRAKES. DEALER CONTACTED. CANNOT LOCATE CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #8013656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Bergen, NJ
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
WHILE DRIVING TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM BECAME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL ON ROUGH OR WET ROADS.
NHTSA complaint #8013658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.